Francesca Knowles, this is not a political discussion, unless someone wants to make it such. People talk about getting drivers license and vehicle registration here; is that political because it does deal with State governments and legislation, or is talking about taxes political, because that is done here as well.
Leebley, unless the other person who is an attacker has a firearm I think that the least lethal approach should be used. That is one reason why I have a stun gun and bear spray. I bring bear spray with me when I go hiking. I have owned guns since I joined the army back in 1964 and have only had that one incident which I described in my OP.